The next day, as the first rays of dawn broke across the horizon, a black tide of News Coos took flight from every outpost of the World Economic Journal. They flapped their wings, carrying the newspaper that would set the entire world on fire, delivering it to every corner of the vast sea.
And just like that, the sea began to boil.
From the most bustling commercial cities to the most remote, nameless islands; from heavily guarded Marine bases to lawless ports where pirates reveled, the reaction was the same. Everyone who got their hands on a newspaper was stunned into silence, their minds wiped blank by the shocking headline and explosive photographs that dominated the entire front page.
The "God" and "Demon" of the New Era—'Strange Tail' Takero! Black Arm Defeated! Buster Call Annihilated!
In one photo, the black-haired youth stood over the defeated form of Zephyr, his Haki radiating an aura of absolute dominance. In another, a colossal ape tore through warships amidst a sea of fire, an image of pure, suffocating destruction.
"No… it can't be! 'Black Arm' Zephyr… lost?!"
"The Buster Call was… wiped out?! Is this for real?!"
"This 'Strange Tail' Takero… where in the hell did this monster come from?!"
"Look! He has a tail! Could he be a user of some undiscovered Mythical Zoan Fruit?"
Shock, doubt, fear, and even fanatical excitement spread like a plague across the globe. On that day, the name 'Strange Tail' Takero was violently forced into the world's consciousness, becoming a new synonym for "legend," "monster," "god," and "demon."
Wano Country, Onigashima.
"Uohohohohoho…!"
A thunderous, drunken laugh echoed from the top floor of the demonic, skull-shaped castle. Kaido, Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, held a giant sake gourd in one hand and the newspaper in the other, a look of extreme interest on his face.
"That old fool Zephyr… beaten by some rookie kid?" He poured a waterfall of sake into his mouth, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "And he can transform into a giant ape? Uohohoho… Interesting! This is very interesting!" His dream was to build an unstoppable army composed entirely of Zoan users. A suspected Mythical Zoan with this much power was a prize he had to have.
Kaido slammed his mountain-like body upright, nearly tearing through the roof of the castle keep. He threw the newspaper to the floor and bellowed for his lead performer. "King! Get in here!"
When King the Wildfire appeared, Kaido issued his order. "I want you to find out everything there is to know about this Takero kid! A man that powerful can't be wasted! Find him, and tell him that I, Kaido of the Beasts, have my eye on him! Tell him to get his ass to Wano!"
New World, Totto Land.
"Mamamama… Mamamamahahaha!"
A sharp, witch-like laugh echoed through the giant palace on Whole Cake Island. Charlotte Linlin, captain of the Big Mom Pirates, sat on her massive throne, stuffing cake into her mouth while she read the paper.
"A boy who can turn into a giant monkey? And he beat Zephyr?" Her huge tongue licked cream from the corner of her mouth, her eyes gleaming with a collector's greed. "Hmm… that sounds like a very, very rare race! My Totto Land doesn't have one of those yet!"
Her gaze fell on Takero's face in the photo. He was young, but his features were sharp. A chilling smile, full of a twisted "motherly love," spread across her face. "Mamamama! What a good boy! So strong, and a rare race too! Perfect! I still have several daughters who aren't married yet!"
She turned to the man standing beside her throne. "Katakuri! Go and 'invite' this Mr. Takero to Whole Cake Island! Tell him… I want him to attend the grandest, sweetest tea party ever! I want him… to become my son-in-law!"
The Moby Dick.
"Gurarararara… Gurararararara!"
On the deck of the Moby Dick, Whitebeard's characteristic, booming laughter echoed across the sea, making the entire ship tremble.
"Did you see, Marco?! I told you this era wouldn't be boring!" He held the newspaper high, his face filled with genuine admiration for the new generation. "First he attacks the Celestial Dragons, and now he takes down a Buster Call! This Takero kid gets more and more interesting! Gurarara!"
"Yes, yes, Pops," First Division Commander Marco said, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Could you keep it down? And maybe put the bottle down? You're way over your alcohol limit for today, yoi."
"Nonsense!" Whitebeard glared, taking another huge gulp of sake. "An occasion this happy must be celebrated with a drink! What's the point otherwise?!" He looked back at the photo of the roaring ape, a nostalgic glint in his eye. "That unreasonable destructive power… it really takes me back. Reminds me of that bastard Roger, and that old fool Garp when they were young. Next time I see that Red-Haired brat, I'll have to ask him where he found such an interesting fellow!"
North Blue.
"Fuffuffuffu… Fuffuffuffuffuffu!!!"
A suppressed, insane laugh, filled with twisted pleasure, finally erupted. Donquixote Doflamingo stared at the newspaper, at the image of the monster that had annihilated the Buster Call, and the evil smile on his face broke completely. He was trembling with laughter, tears of pure joy streaming from his eyes.
"Well done! Absolutely brilliant, Takero!!!" he roared, savoring the name he both hated and feared. "World Government! Five Elders! You arrogant bastards!" He spread his arms wide. "Do you see?! This is the 'monster' you tried to suppress! This is the 'truth' you tried to cover up!"
The humiliation of his own defeat at Takero's hands had transformed into a sick, vicarious pleasure. "Fuffuffu… keep it up, Takero!" he hissed, his eyes gleaming with a mad light. "Stir this fake, peaceful sea into an even bigger storm! I am so very much looking forward to it!"
The Red Force.
As the saying goes, where there is joy, there is sorrow.
"It's over… I'm completely finished…"
Red-Haired Shanks was slumped on the deck, as limp and lifeless as a salted fish that had lost its dream. The newspaper in his hand felt like it weighed a thousand tons. His first mate, Benn Beckman, subtly edged away from him. The sniper, Yasopp, polished his rifle, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Captain," Lucky Roux said around a mouthful of chicken, "the paper says Takero beat up an Admiral and a Buster Call."
"I saw…" Shanks's voice was a weak whisper.
"It also says… he turned into a giant, white… ape? Looks like the Marines got beaten pretty bad."
"I saw that too…"
"Captain…"
"Don't say it…" Shanks slowly covered his face with his hand and let out a pained wail.
"Yi ya~" Nearby, Uta saw the familiar face in the newspaper and pointed excitedly. Shanks's eyes lit up with a sliver of hope. That's right! Uta! For Uta's sake, surely Takero won't hold a grudge against me, right?
Beckman mercilessly crushed that hope. "You're overthinking it. He'll probably just beat you half to death."
Shanks's face fell. "…Damn it!!" He cried out to the heavens, his voice filled with pure, undiluted regret.
"Why did I ever… invite that little monster onto my ship—!!!"
One newspaper, because of one name, had thrown the entire world into an unprecedented frenzy.
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